4 August 2006

Council property rights may be trampled In Albany

"There is talk of a new Albany Senior High School being Planned on North Shore City Council land, which may be forcibly taken by the Ministry of Education. If its true then it is a matter worthy of protest from all quarters," says Beth Stone Outdoor Recreation NZ spokesperson for Urban Issues.

"A number of years ago, there was a Pony Club near this site, on land now occupied by hockey and soccer fields. They were moved on. There was also a Pony Club at the end of Bass Road. They were moved on. That was after they'd been moved off the Albany Domain to make way for more 'team sports' fields. There is also a BMX track , also on Council land, right next to the Pony Club site. One wonders how that will be affected.

"There appears to be a perception that pony riders are deserving of less consideration than sports teams or a government body which can't figure out its future requirements. Many young people work long hours after school to help support their riding. Many also have to find their own way to the club grounds as so many parents work such long hours.

"Each and every sport has a right to exist, within easy reach of the people who participate. If we are serious about controlling the 'obesity epidemic', we need to make access to people's chosen sport easier, not more difficult.

"Other suitable land could easily be found on which to site a school. The land opposite, on which sits a private school, used to be Crown land. It seems therefore short sighted to now try and forcibly buy land from the Council, with just a road dividing what is now wanted with what was once owned. The government needs to wake up."

ENDS

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